The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-13

"a dollar and thirty nine cents ct apies cola
lie deluge," says Kiz. emptying her purse into her
lap-a shabby little purse whose chronic lean
ness seems actually to have shrunken it just as
constant fullness puffs one out. Kiz looks really
anxious. as have never seen her look before;
the very faint line between her brows has deep
ened to frown. What shall we do if Kiz's
spirits are going to faila We have dined off them
on many dreary day; my winter cloak has been
made Of them; if the tradesmen with whom we
deal could have regarded them in the same light
that did we might have even paid our bills
with them but alas, filthy lucre and nothing
else will satisfy those gross souls.
"If had stepped my soul in perjury and made
Mrs. Settletops ugly child seraph might now
be on the high road to fame and fortune" says
Kiz, gloomily.
st was astonishing likeness. 1 was afraid
b wouldn't suit" say l. candidly.
Kizs strong point in painting portraits is
6delity to nature we have learned that fidelity
to nature has its drawbacks. What, o what
have we not learned in this year of city expert
enceg Whereas we talked grandly when we left
Poppleton Academy, of genius" and talent
we speak modestly Of faculty and
'knack." We have exchanged rosy dreams Of
fame and fortune to be won at bound for the
painful knowledge that heights are steep"
We spurned the narrow sphere and the small
but safe salaries that Poppleton Academy
offered, and came, unheralded and unknown to
the great city, to "set our feet that halted to
run against the swift simply because we were
ignorant If we had known we should not have
ventured. And yet, in all the troubles through
which we have come, I do not think we
have repented. kiz may be repenting
now. The Settletop baby's portrait was
success Kiz had just put her best effort
into it. and the baby's mamma had refused to
take or pay for it. And that is not the worst.
Mrs Settletop is leader of fashionable society,
and her patronage would have been of the great
eat benefit to Kiz. And Kiz's boots are unde-
niably shabby; it takes great foftitude Of soul
to resist the depressing influence of shabby
boots kiz is mourning for Perry. l know it,
although she will not acknowledge ir. Perry
was kizs--I had almost written our lover. Kiz
and have almost everything in common and
was proud that among our few possessions, we
could number a lover; were otherwise 80
lonely and forlorn. Kz might have innumerable
lovers, one would think, to look at her, she is so
pretty in G-euze shepherdess style with dim
Piles and pouts, and general bewitchingness; but
she wanted no other than Perry. Indeed, before
she saw him, she had declared her firm deter
mination never to "give her mind" to lovers;
there was no for such things in life
devoted to art" 1t took Perry Just one week a
summer week in Poppleton, with twilights, and
moonlights. and long afternoon rows on the
river, to put that idea out OF Kiz's head.
1t was not Perry's beauty that did it; he is
big. ungainly fellow, with hair that one could
warm ones hand By, and about three times as
much nose as there is any occasion for But he
is strong, and manly, and true to the hearts core.
and am vexed with Kiz that she has quarreled
with him. The quarrel began by her refusing to
marry him, off hand, as be wished: she would
not be burden to him in his poverty" she said,
and then he took it into his head to be absurdly
jealous of an owlish old professor, who was de-
voted to kiz in grandfatherly sort of way, and
being hct-headed and unreasonaby young peo-
pie they parted with mutual reproaches. When
we left Poppleton, Kiz took that he should
have no cew as to our whereabouts. We have
heard, accidentally that he is out on the plains
sketching Indians-he means to be famous, but
at present he condescends to occupy the position
of special artist for an illustrated paper-and
Kiz. / know, thinks of him by day and dreams
of him by night and has an inward conviction
that Indians have special prediction for art
lists scalps. But che bears up bravely
The financial situation is somewhat alarming.
My purse is almost as lean rs Kiz and our land
lord has sent several little reminders that the
months rent is overdue.
Fidelity to nature is not the rock upon which
have split. My asters, and golden rod. and
gentians and morning glories have been COM
plmented as having sentiment and being.
above all. original. One young woman candidy
remarked that she "never any flowers in
the least like them" Kiz assures me that the
remark was intended to be complimentary, and
referred only to my originality Of style Kizs
cheerful way of looking at things is great com
fort.
But originality does not seem to be as saleable
commodity as one could wish, and we have
clearly demonstrated the impracticability Of
suLsisting on compliments.
By dint of long searching and sore humia-
ton have acquired five pupils. They are all
OF abnormal obtuseness, but they have revived
my dropping spirits in some degree, and l am
which locks undeniably like clover. try to
encourage Kiz by reminding her that
there are seraphic babies whose mothers
could not be disgusted by fidelity to nature, and
way. But Kz talks desperately of eooring pho
tographs or painting sign boards. Never have
seen Kiz in such mood as this. and the feelings
that cherish towards the innocent Settletop
baby are little short of murderous.
There comes rap at the door.
Zone OF the landlords little reminders" says
K;z If I had said that before this mood came
upon her. she would have snubbed me merciIess
~, and said it was probably customer eager tt
pay a fabulous price for my least promising
picture. Kiz's spirits are failing.
1t is not the landlords bill. 1t is little ole
lady, gaily and girlishly attired. She wears
blue silk dress, trimmed with many little ruff1es
under her short black velvet jacket, and blue
bonnet. laden with flowers, is set iauntily upor
her head. Around her little baked apple of
face profusion of auburn ringlets hutter CO
quettshly.
draw long breath of relief. Anything il
better than the landlords bill; but she does no
look to me like q promising customer, and d.
not leave my clover. Kiz, however, has pen
chant for old ladies. She was brought up by he
grandmother, and sees likeness to her tina
brings tears to her eyes in half the old ladie
she meets. She emerges from her gloom t
beam bewitchingly upon this one. She will b.
very likely to waste half the morning upon her
kiz's tender heart will be her ruin, mediate
within my practical self.
Are YOU the youpp ladv who paintq nor